![\"Snake](\"http:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Snake_At_The_Ready.jpg\")
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Interesting read on Australian Snakes…<\/p>\n
DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important.<\/p>\n
In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesn\u2019t change treatment.<\/p>\n
5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used but now we don\u2019t do this. Our new Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesn\u2019t matter what snake bit the patient.<\/p>\n
Read that again- one injection for all snakes!<\/p>\n
Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hospitals, so most hospitals no longer stock specific Antivenins.<\/p>\n
3000 bites are reported annually.
\n300-500 hospitalisations
\n2-3 deaths annually.<\/p>\n
Average time to death is 12 hours. The urban myth that you are bitten in the yard and die before you can walk from your chook pen back to the house is a load of rubbish.<\/p>\n
While not new, the management of snake bite (like a flood\/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be refreshed each season.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with a basic overview.<\/p>\n
There are five genus of snakes that will harm us seriously – Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans.<\/p>\n
All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood).
\nThis venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.<\/p>\n
It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).
\nNow this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood.<\/p>\n
Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body.<\/p>\n
Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking\/exercise etc.<\/p>\n
Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks) which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.<\/p>\n
Back to the snake bite site.<\/p>\n
When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).<\/p>\n
The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.
\nStay still!!! Venom can\u2019t move if the victim doesn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n
Stay still!!<\/p>\n
Remember most people are not bitten into their blood stream.<\/p>\n
In the 1980s a technique called pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further retard venom movement. It completely stops venom \/lymph transport toward the blood stream.<\/p>\n
A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (don\u2019t wash the area).<\/p>\n
Technique:
\nThree steps: (keep them still)<\/p>\n
Step 1
\nApply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.<\/p>\n
Step 2
\nThen using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers\/toes all the way to the armpit\/groin.
\nThe bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage.<\/p>\n
Step 3
\nSplint the limb so the patient can\u2019t walk or bend the limb.<\/p>\n
Do not:
\nDo not cut, incise or suck the venom.
\nDo not EVER use a tourniquet
\nDon\u2019t remove the shirt or pants – just bandage over the top of clothing.<\/p>\n
Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.<\/p>\n
Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees.<\/p>\n
Bleeding – internally and bruising.
\nMuscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing.
\nPain<\/p>\n
In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound.<\/p>\n
Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice.<\/p>\n
Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom.<\/p>\n
Originally posted by Deniliqiin RFS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Interesting read on Australian Snakes… DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important. In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesn\u2019t change treatment. 5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct … <\/p>\n